Caleb’s POV
Damn, this girl has no idea what she does to me.
Just a single look from her-just that smug, self-assured face-is enough to set me on fire. Most females don’t carry themselves with her level of confidence around me. They’re usually too concerned about what’s in my bank account, what I drive, or what expensive crap I might buy them. But Lily? She couldn’t care less.
Which left me in a bit of a bind. What the hell was I supposed to plan for our date? I had no clue, and only a day to figure it out. I even considered calling my mom for advice-a thought so out of character for me, it felt almost absurd. Lily wasn’t the type to be impressed by flashy gestures or expensive outings. My mom was like that too, grounded and unimpressed by material things. But Lily wasn’t simple either. She wouldn’t exactly be thrilled with a casual walk in the woods while I picked her a handful of wildflowers.
I didn’t know much about what Caden had planned, except that he was obsessed. He saw this as his chance to hit the “reset” button and make a solid first impression with her. Meanwhile, I was on a completely different wavelength. I wanted to push her to the brink, to see just how far I could drive her before we were tearing each other’s clothes off in a fiery, uncontrollable passion.
But that wasn’t where we were-not yet. So, for now, I’d stick to my game plan: poke the bear, push her buttons, and see what happened.
*Knock it off, you asshole,* Fang, my wolf, growled in the back of my mind. *You can’t ask her to trust us one minute and pull crap like this the next. Be respectful.*
He had a point, but let’s be honest-I am an asshole. And Lily? She loved our little game just as much as I did. It was obvious. Caden could have his sweet, romantic gestures. I wanted her fire. Her sarcasm. Her edge. Damn, it was hot.
My Luna needed to have a backbone-someone who wouldn’t hesitate to call me out or put me in my place. I’d always secretly wanted a woman who could dominate me in bed, but I’d never trusted anyone enough to let them try. Not when you’re an Ashford, and definitely not when you’re about to become Alpha.
With Lily, though? I’d give her everything. Let her take control just to see the satisfaction on her face when the balance of power shifted. The Moon Goddess knew exactly what she was doing when she matched us with her. No one else could handle both of us. We needed someone who could be both hot and cold-a lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets.
Pulling my burner phone from the glove box, I shoved Fang to the back of my mind. I needed focus if I was going to pull this off. I parked at the grocery store for privacy and dialed the number Lily had left in a voicemail.
RING. RING. RING.
“Lily here,” she answered. Her voice was smooth and professional, but it sent a shiver down my spine. Showtime.
“Yes, this is Hade Ashford,” I said, lowering my tone to sound at least ten years older.
“Oh, good morning, Mr. Ashford,” she said, her voice polite but crisp. “I hope you don’t mind, I got your number from Caleb. I was calling to see if you would be available Saturday night to attend a benefit for Waves, a non-profit founded by Elio Whittaker. I’d be happy to text you the details.”
Her tone was all business, but damn, I couldn’t help picturing her in a tight pencil skirt and low-cut blouse, maybe some glasses perched on her nose. My mind wandered to images of her bent over my desk as I-
Focus.
“Oh, is Caleb setting me up on a blind date?” I asked, putting on my best clueless tone. “I’m old-fashioned, you know. Usually, the guy does the asking. But you sound cute, so I trust his judgment.”
Silence. Sweet, golden silence. Did I just render Lilith Emory speechless? The thought alone had me grinning like a fool.
“I’m afraid you misunderstood,” she replied, her tone cool and measured. “This is a charity auction. I’m one of the people being auctioned off for a date. It’s all for the non-profit, of course.”
Ah, there she was, thinking quick on her feet. I couldn’t help but admire her sharpness.
“So, I have to pay for a date with you?” I teased, adding a mocking scoff for effect. “Is this one of those sugar daddy things? Are you doing this to pay off student loans? Maybe you’ve got a kid without a father?”
Her sharp intake of breath was music to my ears.
“Mr. Ashford, I am not a whore, and how dare you make such an outrageous accusation!” she snapped, her voice dripping with righteous indignation. “Several people are donating their time to the charity auction to help raise money, and guess what? The twins are doing it too! None of us are pocketing a single cent-that’s the entire point of a charity auction! But you know what? It doesn’t matter, because clearly, you wouldn’t understand. You’re just too cheap and clueless to appreciate helping others!”
She didn’t stop there. Oh no, she was just warming up.
“I’m willing to bet you’re single-and for good reason. Let me guess: your idea of a gourmet meal is a bologna sandwich with mustard washed down with diet soda. You probably wear those old-man white New Balance sneakers, drive a ten-year-old SUV just so you can brag about how it’s paid off, and-let me guess-the last time you had a date, you made her pay her half!”
Her words were sharp, vivid, and full of sass, each insult hitting its mark with laser precision. I couldn’t help but snicker. That’s just who she was-she didn’t just insult people; she created entire worlds with her words. She painted scenes so detailed they could hang in a gallery. And God help me, I loved that about her.
I waited for the dial tone, but it didn’t come. The thought of her pacing around, finger jabbing the air as she ranted, her face flushed and seething, was enough to send a surge of heat straight through me.
Oh, hell. The image of her-maybe just out of the shower, hair damp, wrapped in a towel, stomping around her room while letting loose that fiery temper-was almost too much. My grip tightened as I groaned softly, my body betraying just how much her fire affected me.
“Well, young lady, with an attitude like that, I can guarantee no one is bidding on you!” I retorted, my tone sharp and brimming with mock offense. “Maybe now I’ll have to show up just to laugh in your face and bid ten cents.”
Her laughter erupted on the other end of the line, vibrant and utterly unbothered.
“If you can manage to find a suit and scrape together $500 for the entry fee, then I dare you,” she shot back before hanging up.
I stared at the phone for a moment before letting out a laugh of my own, dropping it onto the passenger seat. Rubbing my face, I considered, for a fleeting moment, hiring someone to show up at the auction pretending to be Fang. It was such a ridiculous idea, but damn if the thought didn’t tempt me. Caden wouldn’t like it, though. Still… it was worth a little more consideration.
Don’t you dare! Fang growled in my head, his voice laced with indignation. That was humiliating enough as it is! She thinks our family is full of idiots.
Let her think what she wants, I replied coolly. Deep down, it didn’t matter what Lilith Emory thought right now. She could see us however she pleased because, eventually, she’d come to understand the truth. She was mine-my soulmate. And the day she finally bares her neck to me? That day would be the single most extraordinary moment of my entire life.